This publication presents results, in respect of the 1999-2000 financial year, from an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census of businesses mainly engaged in screening motion pictures in cinemas and drive-in theatres. These businesses are classified to Class 9113 of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). The census did not include businesses or social clubs owning theatrettes who receive a minor part of their income from screening motion pictures, or businesses operating cinemas or drive-in theatres which receive the majority of their income from sources other than box office takings, such as the sale of take-away food.

Size of industry

At the end of June 2000, there were 173 businesses in the motion picture exhibition industry, which was a reduction from 188 businesses at the end of June 1997 and 224 businesses at the end of June 1994.

These businesses operated 326 cinema sites and 17 drive-in sites. While the number of cinema sites have remained virtually unchanged since June 1994, the number of drive-in sites has reduced from 41 sites in June 1994 and 28 sites in June 1997. Despite the reduction in the number of businesses, the number of cinema screens and the number of available cinema seats have increased by 44% and 16%respectively since June 1997.

The industry value added of the motion picture exhibition industry in 1999-2000 was $348 million.

Number of paid admissions

During 1999-2000, there were 79.4 million paid cinema admissions to cinemas which was an 8% increase since 1996-97. Based on the Australian estimated residential population at June 2000, the 79.4 million paid admissions represented 4.1 visits per person during 1999-2000 compared to 4.0 visits per person in 1996-97.

Sources of income

The total income of businesses in the motion picture exhibition industry was $1,046 million during 1999-2000. The main source of this income was gross box office receipts of $679 million. This item represented 65% of total income and the proportion is virtually unchanged since 1996-97.

Expenses

Businesses in the motion picture exhibition industry had total expenses of $934 million during 1999-2000. The major expense item was film hire and rental costs of $268 million (29% of total expenses).

Profitability

The industry recorded an operating profit before tax of $113 million, which was a 6% decrease since 1996-97. This operating profit represented an operating profit margin of 11.4% during 1999-2000.

Employment

There were 9,282 persons working for businesses in the motion picture exhibition industry at the end of June 2000, which was a 20% increase since June 1997.

1 This publication presents results in respect of the 1999-00 financial year from a census of employing organisations engaged in the motion picture exhibition industry.

SCOPE

2 The collection was a census of all businesses classified to Class 9113, Motion Picture Exhibition, of the 1993 edition of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). This class includes all units mainly engaged in screening motion pictures on film or video tape. It does not include businesses or social clubs owning theatrettes who receive a minor portion of their income from screening motion pictures, or businesses operating cinema or drive-in businesses which receive the majority of their income from sources other than box office receipts, such as the sale of take-away food.

IMPROVEMENTS TO COVERAGE

3 Data in this publication have been adjusted to allow for lags in processing new businesses to the ABS business register, and the omission of some businesses from the business register. The majority of businesses affected and to which the adjustments apply, are small in size.

4 Adjustments have been made to include new businesses in the estimates in the periods in which they commenced operations, rather than when they were processed to the business register. Adjustments of this type will continue to be applied in future periods.

5 Further adjustments have been made for businesses which had been in existence for several years, but, for various reasons, were not previously added to the ABS register. The ABS is remedying these omissions.

7 The unit for which statistics were reported in the census was the management unit. The management unit is the highest-level accounting unit within a business, having regard for industry homogeneity, for which accounts are maintained. In nearly all cases it coincides with the legal entity owning the business (i.e. company, partnership trust, sole operator, etc.). In the case of large diversified businesses, however, there may be more than one management unit, each coinciding with a 'division' or 'line of business'. A division or line of business is recognised where separate and comprehensive accounts are compiled for it.

8 The motion picture exhibition industry contains a number of unincorporated joint ventures for the operation of cinemas. Businesses involved in these unincorporated joint ventures reported data relating to their share of the joint venture operations. Care has been taken to ensure that there has been no duplication in data.

STATE DATA

9 Data were collected from the Australia-wide operations of each business. Businesses which operated in more than one State or Territory were asked to provide a dissection of the number of cinema screens, total box office receipts, employment, and wages and salaries to enable State and Territory statistics to be compiled and comparisons undertaken.

REFERENCE PERIOD

10 Data contained in the tables of this publication relate to all businesses which operated in Australia at any time during the year ended 30 June 2000. Counts of businesses include only those businesses that were operating at 30 June 2000.

BUSINESSES CEASED DURING THE YEAR

11 A small number of businesses ceased business during the 1999-00 reference period. It is normal ABS procedure to include the contributions of these businesses in the survey output.

RELIABILITY OF DATA

12 Because the census does not have a sample component, the data are not subject to sampling variability. However, other inaccuracies collectively referred to as non-sampling error may affect the data. These non-sampling errors may arise from a number of sources, including:

deficiencies in the register of units from which the census was taken;

errors in the reporting of data by respondents;

errors in the capturing or processing of data;

estimation for missing or mis-reported data; and

definition and classification errors.

13 Every effort has been made to reduce non-sampling error to a minimum by careful design and testing of questionnaires, efficient operating procedures and systems, and appropriate methodology.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

14 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated; without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

15 This publication is one of a series to be issued in respect of 1999-2000 for a range of cultural services industries. Other publications in this series are:

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